Key Findings Details

Barriers to Later Retirement: Increases in the Full Retirement Age, Age Discrimination, and the Physical Challenges of WorkDavid Neumark and Joanne Song McLaughlin
WP 2012-265

For older workers caught by increases in the Full Retirement Age, stronger state age discrimination protections increase employment and increase the likelihood of new employment.

Physical challenges faced by older workers are a barrier to extending work lives, although some workers are able to reduce physical demands of jobs by moving to new jobs, or through changes at the current employer.

Stronger age discrimination protections do not appear to make it easier for workers with physical challenges at work to move to new jobs, or -- in particular -- to jobs that are less physically demanding.